General extenders in New Zealand Englishes

Abstract

This paper provides insight into the use of general extenders (e.g., and stuff, or something and and whatnot) in New Zealand Englishes as spoken by Māori and New Zealand European (Pākehā) New Zealanders. Based on audio‐recorded data of prompted co‐constructed narrations, the article explores the types of general extenders and their rate of occurrence in both groups. Contrary to expectations, the group of Pākehā New Zealanders shows a significantly higher rate of using general extenders compared to the Māori participants while the preferred types of general extenders overlap to a large extent among the two speaker groups. A close‐up on the by far most widely spread general extender in both groups (and stuff) unveils interesting patterns of variation across the Māori and Pākehā New Zealanders.